The Provincial Government is investing $500,000 in the Strongest Families Institute to expand its stepped-care programming to provide more free, mental health services to families.
The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services, made the announcement on the expansion today. Minister Osborne was joined by Dr. Patricia Lingley-Pottie, President and CEO of Strongest Families Institute, and Brad Glynn, Executive Director of Lifewise NL.
Strongest Families Institute is widely recognized for its high-quality, accessible and award-winning programs that improve the mental health and well-being of people of all ages from highly skilled coaches and innovative technology. Its programming has served thousands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians since 2015, with children and youth programs having a 90 per cent success rate and adult programs having an 88 per cent success rate in resolving their presenting concerns.
Since 2018, the Provincial Government has invested more than $3.8 million in the institute. The expanded programming will complement Stronger Families Institute’s existing Parents Empowering Kids program.
The funding will be used to expand the institute’s Chase Worries Away Program, which educates parents and children, ages six to 11, about anxiety and relaxation skills and the Defeat Anxiety Program, which helps youth ages 12 to 17 learn skills to overcome, control and gradually face their anxiety.
Children and parents may be referred to the programs by the mental health and addictions system, health providers and teachers. Parents can also self-refer for an assessment. To learn more about access to these services, visit StrongestFamilies.com, call 1-866-470-7111 or visit nl.bridgehtegapp.ca online.
The funding helps build upon the work of Towards Recovery: The Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador to improve the quality and availability of mental health services in the province.
Quotes
“Our government is happy to make the expanded Strongest Families Institute programming available to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. These programs provide another way for children and their families to receive needed supports and care, while reducing referrals and wait times in the traditional system.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services
“We are so grateful to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Public Health Agency of Canada for their commitment to improved mental health and wellbeing. The Stepped Care model means we can equip more families with valuable skills to promote, prevent and improve mental health and well-being in the broader population. Most people report that Strongest Families skills have been life changing. With these new enhancements we can bring these life-changing skills to children, youth and families when they need us. We are proud to partner with the government to bring these and our adult mental health (ICAN) program to residents at no cost. We welcome people to make Strongest Families skills part of their mental fitness routine.”
Dr. Patricia Lingley-Pottie,
President and CEO, Strongest Families Institute
“The continued partnership with Strongest Families and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador provides needed resources for young people and their families who may be experiencing a mental health issue or diagnosis with a mental illness. We’ve heard from many peers that use Lifewise’s services that the programs offered by Strongest Families are helpful to them, their children and their wider networks in promoting positive mental health and solutions for when someone is struggling. Connecting Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to resources that are accessible, free and effective is critical in supporting individuals with lived and living experience in our province, and today’s announcement is another step in the right direction.”
Brad Glynn
Executive Director, Lifewise NL
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Provincial Government Providing Funding to Support Mental Health Services
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